Sam Sykes

Sam Watkins[1] is an American epic fantasy writer who publishes fiction as Sam Sykes.

Sam Sykes
Sykes at WonderCon 2017
Sykes at WonderCon 2017
BornSam Watkins
OccupationNovelist
GenreEpic fantasy
Notable works
  • Aeons' Gate series
  • Bring Down Heaven series
  • The Grave of Empires series
ParentsDiana Gabaldon (mother)
Doug Watkins (father)
RelativesTony Gabaldon (grandfather)
Website
www.samsykes.com

He is the son of Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series.[1]

Reception

His debut trilogy of novels, the Aeons' Gate series, was appreciated by critics for its characterization and dialogue, and for its deconstruction of standard fantasy tropes, but criticized for its meandering, derivative plot.[2][3]

Controversy

In 2020, multiple authors, including Megan O'Keefe,[4] accused Sykes of making "gross, sexual comments" at various conventions over the years. Sykes issued an apology, acknowledging "the harm [he] caused through [his] vulgar and sexual words, [his] poor judgment and [his] lack of respect for [his] colleagues."[5] In response, his publisher Orbit Books announced that they would not be acquiring further books from Sykes and would not be arranging or supporting any public appearances for Sykes, including at conventions.[6] Both Sykes and Orbit Books pledged to donate a portion of the profits from Sykes' books.

Bibliography

Aeons' Gate series
  • Tome of the Undergates (2010), ISBN 978-1616142421
  • Black Halo (2011), ISBN 978-1616143558
  • The Skybound Sea (2012), ISBN 978-1616146764
  • "Name the Beast", short story in the 2013 cross-genre anthology Dangerous Women[7]

Bring Down Heaven series
  • The City Stained Red (2015)[8]
  • The Mortal Tally (2016)
  • God's Last Breath (2017)

The Grave of Empires series
  • Seven Blades in Black (April 2019)
  • The Gallows Black (May 2019), a short novella set before Seven Blades of Black
  • Ten Arrows of Iron (August 2020)[9]
  • Three Axes to Fall (December 2022)

References
  1. "FROM SCIENCE TO FICTION". Northern Arizona University. May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  2. Cilli, Dominic (2010). "Tome of the Undergates". SF Site. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. Shurin, Jared (21 May 2013). "New Releases: The Skybound Sea by Sam Sykes". Pornokitsch. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. O'Keefe, Megan [@meganeokeefe] (24 June 2020). "Sam, you made gross, sexual comments to me for years across multiple cons when I was just starting out. You physically picked me up against my will. Maybe you should think about apologizing to the people YOU hurt" (Tweet). Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. "My Apology". 17 July 2020.
  6. "A statement from Orbit regarding Sam Sykes". 17 July 2020.
  7. "Dangerous Women Arrives on Tor.com". Tor.com. July 24, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  8. "The City Stained Red - Sam Sykes". 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014.
  9. Englert, Bradley. "TEN ARROWS OF IRON Cover Launch". Orbit. Retrieved 24 December 2019.


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